How to Find Your Size in Armani Exchange

By Ella Blake · Tellar Fashion Hub · Styling & Sizing Guides

Armani Exchange sizes run small — sometimes a full size smaller than you'd expect. If you've ever ordered your usual size and found yourself wrestling with a pair of jeans that refuses to do up, you are absolutely not alone. The brand uses a predominantly Italian fit model, which tends to be narrower through the hip and closer in the waist, so getting your measurement right before you buy is genuinely non-negotiable here.

"I once confidently ordered a medium A/X shirt in a rush before a trip — told myself I knew my size. Reader, it did not close across the shoulders. Size up, always."

Understanding the Armani Exchange Sizing System

Armani Exchange (commonly written A/X) uses both standard numeric sizing and XS–XXL lettering depending on the product category. Here's how it generally maps:

Tops & knitwear: XS = UK 6–8 / US 2–4 | S = UK 8–10 / US 4–6 | M = UK 10–12 / US 6–8
Jeans & trousers: Sized by waist (in inches, US style) — a UK 10 typically corresponds to a W26–27
Dresses: Often sized 0–14 (US), so a UK 10 = US 6 = A/X size 4–6
Fit profile: Slim through the hip and thigh, narrower cut overall — especially in denim

My honest advice? Go one size up from what you'd normally reach for, especially in denim and tailored pieces. If you're between sizes in the waist but have fuller hips, size to your hips and use a belt. Their denim in particular has minimal stretch, so there's no "wear in" magic happening.

How to Measure Yourself for A/X

Before you order anything from Armani Exchange online, take these three measurements with a soft tape measure. It takes about two minutes and will save you a return trip:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, tape parallel to the floor
Waist: Natural waist — typically an inch or two above the belly button
Hips: Around the widest part of your hips and seat, about 8 inches below the waist

Cross-reference these with the A/X size chart on their product pages — it does change slightly season to season, so always check the chart that's on the specific listing rather than relying on memory from a previous purchase.

Armani Exchange Denim: The Real Talk

Their jeans are the pieces I get the most questions about. The J69 Slim and J28 Super Skinny cuts are notoriously unforgiving — there's very little give in the fabric. If you carry weight in your thighs or have an hourglass figure, these styles will almost always need a size up. Their J14 Boyfriend and J69 Relaxed fits are considerably more accommodating and honestly far easier to style for a broader range of bodies.

One thing I do love about A/X denim is the wash quality — the indigo stays deep for longer than a lot of comparable brands at the price point. But nail your size first, because the cut has very little forgiveness.

Armani Exchange vs. Giorgio Armani Sizing — Are They the Same?

No — and this trips people up constantly. Armani Exchange is the diffusion line, pitched at a younger, more casual market. The sizing, while still Italian-influenced, is not identical to the main Armani line. Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani tend to run even more European-narrow. If you know your Emporio Armani size, you may still need to adjust slightly for A/X depending on the garment category.

High Street Alternatives Worth Knowing About

Look, A/X is gorgeous — but the price point isn't always realistic for building a full wardrobe. These are the high street brands I genuinely rate as alternatives, particularly for similar clean-lined, contemporary pieces:

Reiss — consistently brilliant for sharp tailoring and elevated basics; their trousers in particular match the A/X aesthetic closely (their size guide is also very accurate, which I appreciate enormously)
Hugo Boss — the Boss Orange line especially delivers that Italian-influenced slim cut without quite the A/X markup
All Saints — brilliant for the edgier, urban side of the A/X look; leather pieces especially
Massimo Dutti — impeccably made, beautiful fabrics, and the fit is very similar to the Armani silhouette
Calvin Klein — obvious denim alternative; their slim-cut jeans are a genuine rival at a more accessible price
Ted Baker — worth a look for occasion dressing and smart-casual; more forgiving fit across the hip than A/X
Mango — consistently delivers the Mediterranean-cool aesthetic that A/X does well, often at a fraction of the cost
Me&Em — if you love the clean-cut A/X shirt style, Me&Em does it brilliantly in British-friendly sizing

For something a bit more independent, I'd point you towards Studio Nicholson — a London-based label with a similar pared-back minimalism and beautiful fabric quality — and Asket, a Swedish direct-to-consumer brand that actually provides granular sizing data across a huge size range, which is a revelation after fighting Italian sizing charts.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

This is exactly what Tellar.co.uk was built for. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool — just enter your measurements once, and Tellar matches your body to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more guessing, no more returns, no more size anxiety.

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